Tag Archives: faith

Beauty spilling out…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 02, 2025: SOAP #5599:  Judges 13-16; 2Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

OBSERVATION:   Later in chapter 11 of this letter, Paul gives a list of the things he has endured while serving the Lord.  Five times he had been whipped with 39 lashes, he had been beaten with rods, he had been stoned, he had been shipwrecked three times, he had been hungry and thirsty, cold and naked.  Yet in this verse he is thankful to God who had always led him “in triumphal procession in Christ.” 

The physical crushing and hardships that Paul endured released a special insight into the depth of Paul’s love for Christ and for the church.  People could see evidence of the presence of Jesus in his life.  It was like people could smell a special fragrance that made them realize the presence of Jesus. 

APPLICATION:   We may not always have triumph in our circumstances, but we can always have victory in our spirit and in our attitude.  And when it is obvious to others that we are being beaten down, yet we do not act beaten down—it is then our life becomes a testimony that there is something on the inside (the life of Christ) that is greater than anything the world can throw at us!  

The deep-seated joy and peace that radiated from His presence seems especially noticeable when there is struggle and turmoil on the outside.     

PRAYER:   Lord, I pray for those who are going through great suffering or are in the hospital.  May your presence be easily recognized in their lives.  May your peace flood their room and spill out into the hallway.  May the medical staff look for excuses to visit their rooms.  Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in them.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Inescapable, Universal Law

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 29, 2025: SOAP #5595:  Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1Corinthians 15

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.     

OBSERVATION:   The eternal laws of holiness rule all that our Holy God created.  They are reasonable and logical laws.  God is holy and he has revealed the holy laws that rule the past, the present, and eternity.  No one can escape the universe, so no one can escape the holy laws. 

The primary law of holiness is that the soul that sins shall die.  It is a law that cannot be changed.  It is a law that condemns every living person to death, eternal separation from the Holy God into a proper place for those who break the holy laws, which is eternity in hell. 

Without breaking, Holy laws allow one out.  If someone of the same eternal value who has not broken any holy laws would be willing to take the guilty party’s place, the guilty could go free! 

The reality is that the Holy God is also a loving God.  He so loved the man He had created that He sent His son (Jesus) to be born as a man, to live a perfectly holy life, and to die for our sins!  His resurrection is proof that there is life beyond the grave!   It is eternal life with two possible destinies, heaven or hell. 

APPLICATION:   In Adam, holiness demands I pay for my sin by spending eternity in hell.  In Christ, my penalty has been paid and I will spend eternity in heaven in the Presence of a Holy and Loving God!   It is truly amazing!    

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, next month as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Your Son, thanksgiving overflows for your great mercy and grace.  Father, thank you for Jesus!   Jesus, thank you for dying and resurrecting!  Holy Spirit, thank you for leading me to Jesus! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Lord, may it be your joy…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 28, 2025: SOAP #5594:  Judges 4-5; Psalm 39, 41; 1Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 41:1   Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in time of trouble.
2   The LORD protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. 
3   The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.  

OBSERVATION:   The weak are important to God and those who care for the weak are important to God.  God considers those who help the weak as His helpers. 

Of course, He protects and preserves them; they are doing His work.  Of course, He restores them to health so they can continue doing His work.  (This would be like Dorcas in Acts 9:36-41 who was “always doing good and helping the poor.”)

APPLICATION:   I know that God is a gracious God and treats me FAR better than I could ever deserve.  But still, I want to live my life is such a way that God would want to restore my health.  It would be to His benefit, and the benefit of others, to have me continue doing what I had been doing.  

When people are sick and praying for healing, I wonder if God ever wants to ask, “Why should I heal you?”  “Do you want me to heal you so that you can continue complaining, or hating, or hurting others, etc.?” How much better it would be if God could say, “Of course, I will heal you.  It gives me joy to enable you to continue bringing me honor and glory on earth by the way you serve others.  They can easily see that I am living in you!” 

PRAYER:   Lord, help me to be like Dorcas.  I want to please you in the way I live my daily life.  May you smile and may others be blest.  When I am sick, may it be your joy to heal me so I can continue to honor you with the way I live.  Amen.
And, Lord, there are SOAP readers who have used up their strength in serving others.  Help them to know that you take their service personal—they have been serving you; and they can personally take the above verses as your promise to them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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A Notable Difference!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 27, 2025: SOAP #5593:  Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  Judges (NIV) 3:1 These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): …
4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD’s commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.

OBSERVATION:   God had a plan laid out very clearly through Moses that they were to completely drive out all the inhabitants of the land.  However, they did not obey.  Here (verse 1,2,4) we see that God can even use their disobedience.  God is sovereign.  He is never boxed in.  Our disobedience may foil His best plan, but He remains with numberless ways to bring about His plan.  What trouble these remaining Canaanites would cause the Israelites, but God would use them for His glory.

God used these nations to teach the Israelites who had no battle experience how to war.  God would use these nations to bring temptation to Israel, to put a choice before Israel.  Who would Israel choose to serve?  Would they remember what God had done for their nation, or would they forget and make their choices based on present conditions? 

Israel’s choices would be obvious to all; and God’s pleasure/blessings would also be obvious to all.  Not only was God teaching Israel, He was/is also teaching all who would read and learn.

APPLICATION:   The same God has laid the same choices before us today.  If we have lived long enough we should be able to see how God has blest us when we walked close to Him and the difference in how the world treated us when we did not follow God’s ways. 

If you have not been a believer very long, talk to someone who has been a believer and follower of Jesus for years and see if they can give some personal examples of the difference of living close to Jesus verses living without relying on Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to have a close, daily relationship with You.   Be my best friend.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Turning Problems into Blessings!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 26, 2025: SOAP #5592:  Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 23:9 The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.  
11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 

OBSERVATION:   Joshua was giving Israel his farewell message.  He encourages them by recounting what God has done, and he warns them of the dangers of breaking God’s laws. 

It was not their power, but their God who made them victorious over their enemies.  It was not their numbers, but their God that sent the enemy running.         

APPLICATION:   My God’s presence is more powerful than my problems.  His presence changes the odds to my favor!   What could only be seen at first as a danger, ends up working out for my good.   

God has often changed my problems into blessings. 

When my efforts only seem to make things worse, I can quietly read His Word and let Him work.  When my words seem to fall on deaf ears, I can be quiet and let Him do the talking.  His words may be pushed aside, but people cannot turn a deaf ear to God.  In one way or another, His message will get through! 

PRAYER:   Mighty God, You are my God!  Nothing is impossible with you!  With you all things are possible!  You are not tired or worn out.  You are ever fresh!  As you promised, I can count on you to work all things together for my good.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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The SOAP team in West Africa has finished up in Burkina Faso.  They left behind over 5,000 new believers and 150 cell groups!!!  Each cell group has an Arabic Bible.  They also installed several computers and printers which will be receiving the SOAPs every day.  A brother will be translating them into Arabic.   Tomorrow they will be starting in another West African country.  Pray for them.  😊 

The Value of Mistakes!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 25, 2025: SOAP #5591:  Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 

OBSERVATION:   These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given:  idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling.  Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.   

APPLICATION:   It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others.  Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible.  The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders.  How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!   

And it is good to let others learn from my mistakes.  I should not allow the sin of pride to cause me to hide my mistakes from those under my authority or influence, especially from children.  They too will make mistakes, so they need a good example of acknowledging their wrongs.  They need a good example of how to apologize.  They need a good example of how to depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the change needed.    

Our lives are too valuable to ignore the lessons to be learned from mistakes.  I can forgive someone their sin against me, but I can also learn from it so that I do not sin against someone else.  And by not hiding my sins, I am allowing others to learn from me. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for the Bible!   Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders.  I do not have to be perfect to be used by You.   Lord, may I be a good example of how to repent and apologize to others.  Use me as an example of how to overcome temptation and failure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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NO MORE Wilderness Living in the Promised Land!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 24, 2025: SOAP #5590:  Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 18:1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

OBSERVATION:   The big battles had been won, and the country was under Israel’s control.  But seven of the twelve tribes had not claimed their tribal inheritance, settled into their area, established their homes and made it theirs.  They had been tent-living in the wilderness for 40 years and they had become accustomed to that way of living.  Now it seemed they were willing to continue “wilderness” living in the promised land!!!

They did not need to live in tents any longer.  They could build and move into homes.  They could plant gardens.  They could develop communities.  Perhaps they had become too accustom to living in the wilderness. 

APPLICATION:   Jesus won the “big battle” for me on the cross.  He defeated Satan and secured my salvation.  As the Israelites needed to learn how to live in the Promised Land, I need to learn how to live in the Kingdom!  I need to study to apply God’s Word to my daily life.  I need to re-program my mind to think and talk Kingdom truth.  I need to stretch my faith to be stronger this year than it was last year.  None of this “wilderness living” in the Promised land for me! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, put a check in my heart when I start thinking and talking like I am still living in the world.  With your help, I want to think, and talk, and live every moment like you are with me.  …for you really are!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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…just as He said…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 22, 2025: SOAP #5588:  Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

(the Lord speaking to me through an old SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 14:10 [Caleb speaking] “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

OBSERVATION:   The land was being divided among the 12 tribes of Israel and Caleb was claiming his portion of the promised land.   He was speaking with a lot of confidence.  Although he was 85 years old, he was still strong and vigorous, and he would drive out the Anakites with their large and fortified cities.   Caleb’s talk was not something he would have to back up.  God would be backing up Caleb’s words. 

Caleb was not depending on his strength and wisdom.  He had a Helper!   He was depending on his Helper and his Helper’s promise.   

APPLICATION:   Caleb’s Helper is my Helper too!  It has been 3700+ years since He helped Caleb take possession of what He had earlier promised Caleb.  Caleb’s Helper is with me and has spoken to me also!  God will do for me, “just as He said!”  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are Caleb’s Helper!  You are still the omnipresent, omniscient, ever present, all wise and all-powerful Helper of those who trust you.  You are holy and loving, faithful and merciful.  I love you.  Thank you for speaking to me and being my Helper. Amen

Pastor Leon
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I am Dependent on Him

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 20, 2025: SOAP #5586:  Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 69:13  But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
…
16  Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

OBSERVATION:   The Psalmist was in trouble and looking for an answer from God.  He was not approaching God on the basis of how he deserved God’s love, but on the basis of God’s character.  He was counting on God’s goodness and love.  He was counting on God to show him favor and be merciful.  

APPLICATION:   It is humbling to realize how holy, just and righteous God is and how unworthy I am.  I have to depend on His mercy and His love for me.  He made a sacrifice so awesome that it more than covers my sins. 

Not only do I need to depend on Him, He wants me to depend on Him.  I must depend on Him when I am in trouble, when I am tempted, when I am tired, when I am disappointed, and when I am happy.  He wants me to depend on Him when things are going my way and when they are not. 

He often sends me into places where I will fail if I do not depend on Him.  He has actually placed His Holy Spirit in me, so it is easy to depend on Him. 

I do not need to go someplace to meet Him or wait until He arrives.  He is an ever-present help all the time. 

My life gives God opportunity to demonstrate how much He loves us and what He can do in response to our faith. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I am so thankful I can count on you. I count on your presence.  I count on you to put your thoughts in my mind.  You help me maintain a life of victory and restore victory to me when I fall.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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What a delight!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 17, 2025: SOAP #5583:  Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  :  Psalm (NIV) 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. …
23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;

OBSERVATION:   This Psalm gives me an assignment.  I am to “delight” myself in the Lord.  This is not something done to me, but something I choose to do.  It is not something that is difficult to do, for God is so amazing!  Our minds will never contain the whole of God.  There will always be something new that will bring joy as discovered. 

Delighting myself in God will definitely change the desires of my heart.  They will change from being temporal things to eternal things!   I will begin to see the eternal value of people and things around me.  I will begin to desire the things that HE wants to do!   It will be His joy to answer my prayers.  Soon I will be living a life that God will delight Himself in me!!!  

APPLICATION:   Here is a worthy goal for Leon.  To live my life in such a way that causes the LORD to delight in me.  God causes me much joy!   It is my pleasure to serve Him.  He is obviously worthy of my attention.  I delight in Him because of Him!   I want Him to delight in me because of me.   I want my choices to bring Him joy.    

Surely, He weeps when He sees the world He created, and the people for whom His Son suffered on the cross…when He sees them ignoring Him and making such self-destructive choices.  May we be the ones to bring Him joy. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I delight in you!  You are awesome.  You are perfect in all your ways.  I pray that my motives and actions will bring you joy and you will delight yourself in me!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon